106 Prof. Clausius on the Conduction of 



induced to ascribe to it a general validity, and thus to assume 

 that in all electric conduction through electrolytes, a certain rela- 

 tion exists between the force which moves the electricity within 

 the liquid, and a second force which drives forward the liquid itself, 

 and hence that evei'y explanation of electric conduction wherein 

 this latter force is not taken into consideration, must necessarily 

 be incomplete. This opinion, however, would be incorrect. The 

 principle can only be applied to cases such as those for which it 

 was discovered by AYiedemann. The liquid must be in a porous 

 partition, and when, for comparison, many porous partitions are 

 employed, they must all be of the same nature. There are many 

 facts which would lead us to conclude, indeed recent experiments 

 by Breda and Logemau* have proved, that in a continuous liquid 

 mass the above second force is either altogether absent or va- 

 nishingly small. Hence the force under consideration is not 

 generally connected with electric conduction, but acts solely 

 within a porous partition ; in other words, this force only acts 

 when, instead of forming a continuous mass, the liquid is divided 

 into numerous very small canals. 



As yet we possess no successful explanation of this phenome- 

 non ; the notion I have formed for myself concerning the same, 

 is still too hypothetical to warrant its communication. As far 

 as the present memoir is concerned, it will sufhce if it be admitted 

 that, in the foregoing considerations concerning the manner in 

 which electric conduction takes place within the continuous mass 

 of an electrolytic liquid, it was not necessary to take the above 

 phfenomenon into consideration. 



13. In one respect only do I feel induced to make the above 

 phseuomenou the subject of a few remarks ; that is to say, with 

 respect to the simultaneous production of work and generation 

 of heat. 



In the first place, it can scarcely be doubted that the motion 

 of the liquid through the partition is caused by the same free 

 electricity which gives rise to the current of electricity ■\\ithin 

 the partition. Further, in accordance with all known effects of 

 electricity, we must assume that the force proceeding froni free 

 electricity, can, in return, only act upon electricity, and upon 

 molecular masses only in so far as they are electi'ified. AYe may 

 consequently affirm that the immediate effect of the force exerted 

 by the free electricity consists solely in the motion of electricity, 

 and the motion of material masses is a secondary effect connected 

 with this motion of electricity. 



Hence the whole work performed by the electric force within 



a porous partition may be determined just as simply as in other 



conductors. In fact, it will be represented by the increase of 



* Biblioth. Univ. vol.jixxiii. p. l,au(l PoggendorfF's Annalen, vol. c. p. 149. 



